Releasing Our Highest Value

Matthew 13:32

It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

The mustard seed germinates from the tiniest of beginnings.  Yet it blossoms into one of the largest plants in any garden.  It's utility is quite impressive.  As a tree, it provides food and shelter for the birds that it attracts.  As an herb it provides its greater value as a savory delight for man.  It is noteworthy that the true and highest value of the mustard seed is seen only after it has been crushed by the master of the garden.

The mustard seed parable was taught by Jesus in order to illustrate the growth, development and power of our faith.  Our faith starts out as a seed planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  It starts out small at first, but when properly nourished grows into something so large that it changes how we live and how we serve God.  In the early stages of our development as disciples of Jesus Christ, it is likely that we will draw others to us for peace and comfort.  But our greater value to them will come later as we mature in Christ.  When we have been pressed by our trials, perhaps even crushed by them, the best that we have to offer to anyone will be released.  It will be then that those who have been drawn to us will receive the full power of who we are in Christ.

As we are crushed by the trials of life, let us turn to the nurturing care of the Holy Spirit.  Let us surrender to the process of having the old man pressed out of our lives and having the new man in Christ released to the world around us.  Let us strive to reach our highest value in the kingdom by our submission to the hand of the Master.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for planting the seed of faith within our hearts.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will aid us the continuous growth of our faith.  We humbly ask for the grace and the strength that we need to endure the trials in our lives which will press the best from us as we mature in our relationship with Our Savior.   May the world be drawn to us to savor the fullness of Christ within us.  We ask all these things in the name of the Lamb Slain, Jesus Christ.